Transcript Highlights:

• And the admins provide more clerical and administrative support like typing up minutes, committee reports
• </c> more clerical and administrative support more clerical and administrative support like<00:15:59.120
• Now, there are some new administrative support staff folks.
• So the cluster will say here's the transmission that's needed to support these projects, and then if
• They have said a clear indication that they're not supportive of offshore wind, and they've tried to

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We support quality construction. We support design-build.
• We support quality construction. We support design build.
• So I am going to support the bill today. I am going to support the bill today.
• Support.
• In support: Buja Lal, with NextGen California, in support.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > from</c><00:32:12.760><c> the</c> support testimony and support from the support testimony and support
• and Tourism in support, the Agribusiness Development Corporation in support, Hawaii Farm Bureau in support
• in support.
• Hawaii Food Policy is in support. Maui Chamber of Commerce is in support.
• Association in support.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of transportation and public safety bills, beginning with HB 706, which would require skateboard users under age 16 to wear helmets. The Department of Transportation supported the measure, and the chair noted written support from AAA Hawaii, Kulani Medical Center for Women and Children, and several individuals. No opposition was mentioned, and the bill appeared to draw no questions. Members then heard HB 860, which would grant immunity to the state or county that repairs or maintains a street when ownership or jurisdiction is disputed. DOT and DLNR supported the bill, with county support from Maui and a Hawaii Island county representative, while the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed it. The committee also heard HB 1162, requiring applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit to complete an approved basic rider course, with DOT support and a recommended amendment to exempt motorcycles used for training; the Public Defender asked about the current process, and DOT explained the bill was intended to improve safety given motorcycle fatalities. HB 1259, allowing speed-limit reductions within 10 mph of the current limit without an engineering study, also drew DOT support and support from the AAHU Metropolitan Planning Organization and individuals. The committee next considered HB 1158, a governor’s package bill limiting civil liability for people who provide firefighting services with vessels at commercial harbors or roadsteads to gross negligence or wanton conduct. DOT Harbors said the bill was prompted by lessons from the Lahaina fires and was intended to encourage privately owned firefighting-equipped vessels to assist without hesitation; the Hawaii Harbor Users Group and an individual supported it. HB 54, which would make a third or subsequent excessive speeding offense a Class C felony and allow vehicle forfeiture, drew DOT support but strong opposition from the Public Defender, who argued the bill was overly harsh, would force jury trials, and could create sentencing problems; the Public Defender also said existing penalties were already significant. The committee then heard HB 1334, which would exempt donations of wild game meat, including axis deer, to charitable and nonprofit organizations from certain meat inspection and transportation laws; DLNR and multiple community and food-related groups supported it, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 698 on animal cruelty, which would increase criminal penalties for various offenses. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the cases are rare, enforcement is limited, and the proposed penalties—up to Class A felony treatment in some cases—were too severe; animal welfare advocates strongly supported the measure, saying cruelty cases are widespread, underreported, and under-enforced, and that stronger penalties are needed as a deterrent. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the bills in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• a baby becomes a financial transaction between strangers instead of a personal journey between supportive
• Agencies explicitly market their services to global clients, offering them travel support, visa help,
• Navy, so, of course, I'm very keen to support our military.
• I'm happy to speak at this hearing and support... ...will never protect women and children.
• I found myself in a loving, supportive...

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Verbal outbursts, shouting, and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
• ><c> moral</c><00:13:11.040><c> support</c><00:13:11.360><c> to</c> provide morale support, moral support
• to provide morale support, moral support to our<00:13:12.079><c> employees</c><00:13:13.360><c> and<
• </c><00:13:30.160><c> of</c> was it was great to see the support of was it was great to see the support
• </c><00:31:24.799><c> for</c> invested in advising support for invested in advising support for students

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of our other lead agencies within the system of support are supported by Prop 98 General Fund
• So I urge you to support that.
• We support this investment as it will continue to support opportunity youth and their career goals.
• We support this investment as it will continue to support opportunity youth and their career goals.
• We support this investment as it will continue to support opportunity youth and their career goals.

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We support this measure.
• DNR in support.
• Malama Pu‘u Ma in support.
• Um, County of Hawaii Mayor's Office in support. HCDA in support.
• County of Hawaii Mayor's Office in support. HCDA in support.

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture, water, invasive species, and land-use bills. HB 299 and HB 1220, both relating to invasive species, drew broad support from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, C-GAPS, Sierra Club, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and others. Testifiers said HISC funding fills gaps between agency mandates, supports research and technology, and helps respond to both terrestrial and marine invasive threats. On HB 1220, C-GAPS described a marine anemone infestation in Kāneʻohe linked to aquarium release and said control and restoration would be difficult without the bill’s funding. A committee member asked for tracking information on the species, and the Division of Aquatic Resources said it maintains monitoring data and annual reports. No opposition was noted on either measure. HB 506, relating to conservation enforcement, also received support from DLNR and Malama Pu‘u Ma. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope and how the funding would be used. Members asked about a prior boat purchase mentioned in opposition testimony and about whether mainland vendors were being used; the department said it did not buy that boat and that procurement follows the normal state process, with total bid price including delivery, taxes, and other fees. The department explained that the bill’s funding is primarily for marine enforcement work in nearshore fisheries, including herbivore protection around O‘ahu. HB 915, relating to water use, had mixed testimony. DLNR supported alternative water sources and amendments to the water code, while the Department of Agriculture opposed the bill as drafted, saying its irrigation program is designed for non-potable agricultural use and is not structured for residential or mixed-use development. The Department of Health said it needed more information on its reuse guidelines and noted concern about removing the recycled water manager requirement, which it said helps ensure safe operation and maintenance of reuse systems. Members questioned the bill’s preemption language and whether county or state rules would be displaced, and Agriculture suggested county water agencies might be better suited for some of the proposed uses. HB 502, concerning land use, drew support from the Attorney General’s office, the Land Use Commission, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union, with the Department of Agriculture standing on its written testimony. The Attorney General warned that allowing important agricultural lands to be redistricted through a declaratory ruling process could conflict with the state constitution and recommended excluding IAL from the bill. The Land Use Commission said it has an inventory of IAL lands and did not believe the bill would affect them, and it agreed to the suggested protection. Supporters said the bill could help move lands with limited agricultural value into the rural district, reduce pressure on productive farmland, and better align land use with actual farming potential. HB 929, relating to the agricultural land conveyance tax, received comments from the Department of Taxation and opposition from Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Realtors; Farm Bureau said it supports preserving agricultural land but was concerned about unintended consequences and questioned whether speculative flipping of ag land is a current problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ellen Aai, in support. Ellen, are you present? No. Gregory Misakian, in support.
• Ellen Aai, in support. Ellen, are you present? No. Gregory Misakian, in support.
• </c> support Taren warington in support support Taren warington in support Ellena<00:26:27.159><c> in
• > and</c><00:26:29.320><c> support</c> Ellena in support to cheeki and support Ellena in support to cheeki
• We strongly support this measure. We strongly support this measure.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health and Human Services and Judiciary meeting heard testimony on several measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 709 and SB 955. On SB 709, relating to mental health data and related appropriations, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent and said the funding would help maintain a data dashboard and positions, though it had no suggested amount for one blank appropriation. Members also discussed whether sections of the bill were duplicative of existing data reporting. The committees later recommended SB 709 be passed with amendments, including technical changes, deferring the date to December 31, 2050, and blanking out the appropriation for later clarification. SB 955, relating to fitness to proceed, drew mixed testimony. Judiciary opposed portions of the bill, saying some changes could have unintended practical consequences. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill’s intent but urged keeping a three-member evaluation panel rather than reducing it to two, warning that a two-panel process could create delays if a third evaluator had to be added later. A former Hawaii State Hospital clinician said the bill placed too much blame on the courts and should address institutional and administrative problems at the hospital more directly. The Department of Health supported the intent and said it appreciated efforts to address overcrowding. After discussion about examiner shortages and status hearings, the committees recommended SB 955 be passed with amendments reducing the number of qualified examiners from three to one and making related technical changes. The committee also heard SB 1228, a child welfare services measure creating a working group related to youth legal representation and child welfare reform. DHS requested adding a Child Welfare Services representative to the work group, and multiple advocates, including the National Center for Youth Law and Hawaii Youth Services Network, testified in strong support, emphasizing the need for youth voice and implementation of Malama Ohana recommendations. Members asked whether this working group overlapped with another recently passed working group bill; testimony indicated the two measures addressed different issues. The meeting then recessed and later resumed for decision-making on the 9 o’clock calendar, where SB 709 was adopted with amendments and SB 955 was adopted with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> currently have the capacity to support currently have the capacity to support only<00:37:42.760>
• </c><00:39:27.560><c> Thank</c> do and I'm honored to support. Thank do and I'm honored to support.
• And you can support this effort at our website, yourbizmo.com. We continue to support the arts.
• We need everyone's support.
• </c> work in supporting this space. work in supporting this space.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> supporting our veterans in our state. supporting our veterans in our state.
• We are being supported by Duke Cannon support for the troops.
• We are being supported by Duke Cannon support for the troops.
• You've got educational support.
• ><c> receive</c> support.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:25.560><c> needed</c> accessing the financial support needed accessing the financial support
• </c><00:23:59.480><c> of</c> I'm here today in strong support of I'm here today in strong support of
• </c> We need the legislature to support We need the legislature to support efforts<00:36:22.200><c> to
• </c> support your businesses? support your businesses?
• </c><01:37:38.720><c> services</c> and access to supportive services and access to supportive services

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, while I support solar, I don't want to support it to the extent of refusing the idea of bringing
• Many of us are very supportive of the CLEAR Horizons Act.
• I urge your support in the upcoming session.
• We're fully supportive of the program.
• Not everybody supported caps; I mean, it was.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> is</c><00:42:46.120><c> consistent</c> Supporting Senate File 513 is consistent Supporting Senate
• </c><00:48:58.400><c> policy</c> that functionally support policy that functionally support policy advocacy
• I just can't support this. you. I just can't support this. Senator<01:03:45.920><c> Boldon.
• </c> less than our bipartisan support. less than our bipartisan support.
• the workforce participation of others. supports the wellbeing of our youngest supports the wellbeing

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• support local jobs in the end.
• </c><00:14:19.000><c> um</c> Republican Governors have supported um Republican Governors have supported
• I'm here today to offer my enthusiastic support for HF 1277.
• </c><00:26:14.760><c> for</c><00:26:15.000><c> HF</c> enthusiastic support for HF enthusiastic support
• We don’t have the grid to support ourselves, let alone them.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm speaking today in strong support of HF 3668, the bill to I support HF 3668, the bill to establish
• ask for your support to approve it. it. it.
• </c> Please support House File 2779. Please support House File 2779.
• c><01:25:53.440><c> File</c><01:25:54.000><c> 2771</c> support of both House File 2771 support of both
• I speak in support of House File years.

Bills: HF3668 , HF2779 , HF2771

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: gun violence, public health, Department of Health, prevention, criminal justice, health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• I strongly support physicians and evidence-based medicine, and in closing, I ask that you support this
• So, senators, I ask for your favorable support.
• I would ask for your favorable support.
• I encourage your support for this amendment, and I appreciate all those who have supported so far during

Keywords: 998, house, all

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several guest recognitions before moving to the special order calendar. The chamber first took up a series of claims and relief bills, including SB 6 for L.E. against DCF, SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata, and later other measures such as child welfare, public records, and professional licensing bills. Most of these bills were explained by sponsors as targeted fixes or relief measures, and several were substituted with identical House bills before final passage. Votes were overwhelmingly favorable on these items, including unanimous or near-unanimous approvals on the claims bills and education-related measures. A major floor debate centered on CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a new framework for large-scale planned developments on at least 15,000 acres with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a structured path for long-term growth and development, while opponents from both parties warned it was too vague, could undermine local control, and lacked enough specificity on conservation, infrastructure, and land-use protections. After extensive debate, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 21 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 556 on Special Olympics as a PE substitute for students with disabilities, SB 688 on naturopathic medicine, SB 758 on the Justice Administrative Commission, SB 830 creating public-records exemptions for certain local officials and their families, SB 878 on clinical laboratory personnel, SB 914 on dry needling by occupational therapists, and SB 1002 on child welfare and parental drug abuse. Another lengthy and contentious discussion involved CS/CS/SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles, which included provisions on foreign law, domestic terrorist designations, and restrictions on public support for designated organizations. Senators debated an amendment to remove references to Sharia law; that amendment failed. A second amendment with broader revisions and notice procedures was then taken up, with questions focused on notice, appeal rights, and the designation process. The transcript ends during that amendment discussion, before final disposition is shown. Throughout the session, many bills were substituted with identical House companions and then passed by recorded vote, often with strong bipartisan support.

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand in support of it today.
• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• I strongly support physicians and evidence-based medicine, and in closing, I ask that you support this
• I encourage your support for this amendment, and I appreciate all those who have supported so far during

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions before taking up a special order calendar of bills. Early measures included a claims bill for relief to L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which passed 34-0 after substitution from the House version, and a claims bill for the estate of Mark Legata, which passed 35-0 after the amount was reduced in the substitute. The chamber then approved CS for CS for SB 42 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, requiring investigators to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse; the sponsor described it as a fix for cases where medical evidence is overlooked, and it passed 34-0. A bill on autism education for teachers was also substituted with the House version, amended to replace the Senate language, and passed 35-0 after supportive remarks from members. The Senate next passed a land-use bill, SB 218, adjusting hurricane-related development restrictions so they continue in storm-damaged counties but expire in unaffected counties in 2026, with debate focused on local control and recovery needs; it passed 36-0. The chamber then approved several other measures with little or no opposition: a probate bill modernizing curators of estates (36-0), a Blue Ribbon Projects bill creating a framework for large planned developments with conservation set-asides, which drew extensive debate over local control, growth management, and the bill’s breadth before being temporarily postponed, a state lotteries update (36-0), a diploma requirements bill allowing Special Olympics participation to substitute for PE and clarifying marching band credit (36-0), and a naturopathic medicine licensure/regulation bill that reestablishes a licensing framework and board, which passed 33-3. The Justice Administrative Commission bill was amended to broaden membership to include a judge or senior judge and passed 37-0. The Senate also passed a public records exemption for certain local administrators and their families (31-5), a clinical laboratory personnel bill easing staffing requirements by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards (37-0), a dry needling bill clarifying occupational therapists may perform the practice (37-0), a financial disclosures bill revising gift/honoraria reporting and restoring a percentage-based reporting option via amendment (36-0), and a child welfare bill expanding when parental drug abuse can be treated as harm or neglect and allowing earlier court intervention and services (37-0). Later, the chamber took up a bill on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would prevent enforcement of foreign or religious law over the Constitution, create a due-process process for domestic terrorist designations, and bar public funds from supporting terrorism. Senators raised questions about the lack of a time limit on conduct used for designation and whether conviction is required; an amendment was then offered to remove specific references to Sharia law and the bill’s findings, with the sponsor of the amendment arguing the language stigmatized Muslim constituents and singled out Islam. The transcript cuts off during that amendment debate, so no final action on the bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand in support of it today.
• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• With that, I ask for your favorable support.
• I strongly support physicians and evidence-based medicine, and in closing, I ask that you support this
• I encourage your support for this amendment, and I appreciate all those who have supported so far during

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Who supports Senator Rosen's numbers? Who supports Senator Lang's numbers?
• Who supports Senator Rosen's numbers? Who supports Senator Lang's numbers?
• Who supports Senator Rosen's numbers? Who supports Senator Lang's numbers?
• Who supports Senator Rosen's numbers? Who supports Senator Lang's numbers?
• Who supports Senator Rosen's numbers? Who supports Senator Lang's numbers?

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is John Carlson, and I support this bill.
• What it does not fund is fire and EMS support.
• I am speaking in support of this bill.
• Those who support this bill may include Rowlett as a supporter as well, but I stand before you today
• I opposed it because I support transit.

Bills: HB2065 , HB2462 , HB2621 , HB3187 , HB3539 , HB3563 , HB3726 , HB4164 , HB4207 , HB4368 , HB4706 , HB4916 , HB4950 , HB4967 , HB5177 , HB4429 , HB5597

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government